Sole searching before first step

Picking up from the team8217;s first visit to the clinic fixed by former physio Andrew Leipus on the 2001 tour, those who visited the clinic on Sturdee Avenue this time included Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Sreesanth and Dinesh Kaarthick. They were made to run on treadmills with computers analysing data to find out anomalies in 8216;foot strike8217;, or the way their feet strike the ground.

Rosebank experts will pore over various data to work out the load factor on the feet of Indian cricketers, their muscle strength, and stress on tendons and cartilages. The players will then be handed some sort of a planning module to help them correct flaws in their feet movement, if any, which can lead to major injuries. 8220;We are here till November 20. But when we return for the first Test next month, we will ensure that the entire team meets the experts here,8221; said a member of the team support staff.

The team management would expect the visits to be particularly useful for Agarkar who has been through a shin stress fracture, Wasim Jaffer, who reached the West Indies after surgery around his ankle, and Sreesanth whose old ankle injury flares up on the odd occasion.

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